Nanotechnology and Ethics: The Role of Regulation Versus Self-Commitment in Shaping Researchers’ Behavior
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In: Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 109, No. 4, 09.2012, p. 569-581 .
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nanotechnology and Ethics
T2 - The Role of Regulation Versus Self-Commitment in Shaping Researchers’ Behavior
AU - Fink, Matthias
AU - Harms, Rainer
AU - Hatak, Isabella
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - The governance of nanotechnology seeks to limit its risks, without constraining opportunities. The literature on the effectiveness of approaches to governance has neglected approaches that impact directly on the behavior of a researcher. We analyze the effectiveness of legal regulations versus regulation via self-commitment. Then, we refine this model by analyzing competition andautonomy as key contingency factors. In the first step, qualitative interviews with nanotechnology researchers are conducted to reflect this model. In the second step, its empirical relevance is tested using a survey of 90 nanotech researchers. The results indicate that legal regulations, as well as self-commitment to an informal CoC reduce the scope of behavior. Finally, that competition and autonomy affect the relative strength of these governance factors.
AB - The governance of nanotechnology seeks to limit its risks, without constraining opportunities. The literature on the effectiveness of approaches to governance has neglected approaches that impact directly on the behavior of a researcher. We analyze the effectiveness of legal regulations versus regulation via self-commitment. Then, we refine this model by analyzing competition andautonomy as key contingency factors. In the first step, qualitative interviews with nanotechnology researchers are conducted to reflect this model. In the second step, its empirical relevance is tested using a survey of 90 nanotech researchers. The results indicate that legal regulations, as well as self-commitment to an informal CoC reduce the scope of behavior. Finally, that competition and autonomy affect the relative strength of these governance factors.
KW - Management studies
KW - Code of Conduct
KW - Governance
KW - Legal regulation
KW - Nanotechnology
KW - Research behavior
KW - self-commitments
KW - Entrepreneurship
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84866295706&origin=inward&txGid=0
U2 - 10.1007/s10551-012-1431-2
DO - 10.1007/s10551-012-1431-2
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 109
SP - 569
EP - 581
JO - Journal of Business Ethics
JF - Journal of Business Ethics
SN - 0167-4544
IS - 4
ER -